Philadelphia, 3 April, 1799 S/18 I have received your favor of the 28^th Feb^y last enclosing your statement of the Cloathing received — Enclosed you have Invoices of all the Cloathing forwarded to the two Posts of Oswego and Niagara; by these you will perceive that the whole were packed in Nine Hogsheads and marked for the particular posts and Detachments to whom they were to be delivered when they left this City — On their arrival in New york, it was found best for the purpose of transporting them in Sleighs, to start one of the Hogsheads into two Tierces; of course, two Casks were then to be forwarded. The Tierces I presume are those you mention to be without marks. Whether the Hogshead started, was one of those that contained the Cloathing for your post or Niagara I am not informed, but it is clear you have opened Casks not intended for your post, as you will see by the Invoice, for yours are regularly marked from one up to three, and you inform me, two Casks were marked N^o 2. the other, and N^o Here the whole mistake lies: All that can now be done to remedy it is to ascertain whether the contents of the whole number of Casks agree with the Invoices; If they do, on enquiry find who is deficient of the articles that overhold with you, and send them to and receive from them those which you find are deficient for your command, which must overhold with them, all will then stand right — The transportation of Stores to the western posts by the Albany route has invariably been attended with delay, Confusion, and loss, though the expense attending it has been enormous — I think with these observations and they enclosed Documents you will be able to set the Business right. yours &c. Samuel Hodgdon. Major J. J. Ulrich Rivardi. Niagara. [Page 421 BJA01]